How To Hold A Wedding While Safe Distancing During COVID-19
With many experts highlighting that the pandemic may remain beyond 2020, most significant and big events were postponed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, weddings are a little trickier. Couples typically plan a year ahead for their weddings, with invitations sent out a few months before. Since it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, couples usually go all out when it comes to sending invitations, especially since their loved ones would love to witness their promise to commitment.
During this ongoing pandemic, officials have put out safe distancing measures to adhere to for your big day to go on - be it online or offline. Read on as we share some practical tips and suggestions for your unique in-person wedding day!
1. Cut down on the number of guests
Keep your special day to close friends and family members only. Aside from your licensed solemniser, you can only have up to 10 attendees for at-home solemnisation. But if you’re holding it at another venue, then there can be no more than 20 people. And if you’ve already decided on a location pre-Circuit Breaker, try negotiating with your organiser if reducing the number of tables is possible.
2. Adhere strictly to safe distancing measures
Before the wedding, remind your guests to abstain from attendance if they feel unwell. Guests who aren’t from the same household should keep at least a metre apart. Ideally, everyone should ensure one metre of space between one another. Limit the number of chairs per table to allow for more space between each guest.
Instead of going for a buffet-style wedding, perhaps you can serve individual portions of food packed in take out lunch boxes. This can help minimise the risk of cross-contamination and unnecessary congregation that happens when people scoop their own food while queuing in line. You’re also avoiding touch-points among your guests!
3. Assign timeslots to your guests
Rather than have everyone come anytime between the duration of your event, assign time slots to them instead. This way, you can see more people and comply with the implemented rules and measures by the government. For example, each group of 20 can have as long as 30 minutes to spend in the venue. Then, have a buffer time of around 20 minutes before allowing the next group of people to come in!
With this arrangement, you don’t have to feel obliged to invite as many guests as possible; otherwise, you’d end up feeling too tired as you pose for pictures and entertain the attendees. Furthermore, we’re still living amid a pandemic. So, you could consider trimming the wedding banquet to keep the duration of the event short.
4. Prepare temperature screening arrangements
First, check with your organiser if they have any arrangements put in place for temperature screening and contact tracing. You must check and note down your guests’ temperature before they enter the venue. Adding on, keep track of their seating arrangements and travel history, if any.
Those who are on Stay-Home Notices (SHN) or serving their mandatory 14-day quarantine should stay away from your wedding! So, you might want to live stream your event so they can celebrate it with you despite the physical distance.
The COVID-19 pandemic is truly an unforeseen curveball that may have put a lot of stress and pressure on soon-to-be brides and grooms. However, it might not be as significant as the complex challenges that you and your significant other would face as you navigate through your life together. Always remember to take it in your stride and use this chance to work things out together as a couple.
For example, you can choose to make-do without a sit-down meal and instead, have the food packed in plastic containers so guests can bring it home instead. If this idea appeals to you, you can consider ordering them in bulk from plastic container suppliers, which is also a more cost-effective way.
Regardless if you’re postponing your wedding or carrying on with it, always remember that while your wedding takes a day, your marriage lasts for a lifetime. Anytime you feel down, try to focus on the bigger picture. We wish you all the best, and don’t forget to stay safe!